Be wary of political scammers

Published: Monday, October 29, 2012 at 04:26 PM.

Emails and phone calls claiming to be from the local Board of Elections claiming to check on a person’s eligibility to vote.

Red Flag No. 3

Local election boards don’t request Social Security numbers or credit card numbers online to check voter registration. The BBB advises a person to never give out that information over the phone to someone who calls you.

The warning flag for any of these scams is asking for personal information like a Social Security number or credit card number.

“That’s the big red flag that something’s not right here,” Bartholomy said.

If someone wants that scammer to stop calling, let the person on the other line know that you believe this is a scam, he advises. These people don’t want to waste their time calling someone who knows better than to fall for their schemes.

“Once you let them know that you know what they are, they’re not going to bother you again,” Bartholomy said.

Signing up for the Do Not Call Registry won’t stop political scammers from calling.

Tricksters have been using the registry as a way to fool people into thinking that they’re talking to a legitimate company, said Tom Bartholomy, president of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont.

Political companies, telephone surveyors and those seeking donations are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry, Bartholomysaid. A scammer references that knowledge, helping to convince the person on the other end of the line that the offer is real.

“The least concern of the scammers is the Do Not Call Registry,” Bartholomy said. “Do Not Call lists will not protect you from real political parties or phony ones.”

BBB of Southern Piedmont has received about 100 calls since early voting started that involve three types of scams.

Scam No. 1

The first scam purports to be a public opinion survey and offers a free cruise in exchange for participating. Consumers are asked for a credit card to cover port fees and taxes at the end of the call and pressured with tactics like being told the offer will only be good during the phone call.

Red Flag No. 1

Legitimate polling companies don’t offer prizes for participating in a survey and they won’t ask for a credit card number. Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true, Bartholomysaid.

Scam No. 2

In this scam, people are contacted under the guise of seeking political donations. The person calling tries to get a bank number or credit number over the phone.

Red Flag No. 2

A call seeking a donation immediately should raise concern. The BBB advises people to research charities before making a donation. Someone who wants to give money to a political campaign or party should search for contact information online and give to the group directly.

Scam No. 3

Emails and phone calls claiming to be from the local Board of Elections claiming to check on a person’s eligibility to vote.

Red Flag No. 3

Local election boards don’t request Social Security numbers or credit card numbers online to check voter registration. The BBB advises a person to never give out that information over the phone to someone who calls you.

The warning flag for any of these scams is asking for personal information like a Social Security number or credit card number.

“That’s the big red flag that something’s not right here,” Bartholomy said.

If someone wants that scammer to stop calling, let the person on the other line know that you believe this is a scam, he advises. These people don’t want to waste their time calling someone who knows better than to fall for their schemes.

“Once you let them know that you know what they are, they’re not going to bother you again,” Bartholomy said.

The scams coincide with the election cycle. As soon as early voting started, people began getting suspicious phone calls and emails from people claiming to want to check on voter information.

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.